Research candidates and issues

Before evaluating a candidate, know the job. A Governor signs or vetoes legislation, commands the National Guard, and appoints agency heads. A District Attorney decides which cases to prosecute. A school board sets curriculum and hires the superintendent.

The candidate's positions only matter in the context of what power they'd actually have. If you're unsure what an office does, search "[office name] Georgia responsibilities" or visit georgia.gov for official descriptions.

Start with the candidate's own website - what issues do they lead with? What do they say they'll do? Then look for:

• Position papers or issue pages on their website
• Responses to candidate questionnaires from local media or civic groups
• Statements made at debates or forums - search for video or transcripts
• Their social media for unfiltered positions and tone

For incumbents or candidates who've held prior office, their record is the most reliable predictor of future behavior. Look for:

• Voting record - For Georgia legislators, votes are public. Search the Georgia General Assembly website for roll call votes by legislator name
• Sponsored legislation - What bills did they introduce or co-sponsor? That shows priorities, not just talking points
• Committee assignments - Which committees did they serve on, and what work did they do there?
• Attendance record - Did they show up and vote, or miss sessions?
• Prior statements vs. current positions - Has their position shifted? If so, have they explained why?

Campaign finance filings are public record in Georgia. Who's donating often tells you as much as what a candidate says. You can look up contributions at:

• Georgia Ethics Commission - ethics.ga.gov - for state and local candidates
• Federal Election Commission - fec.gov - for U.S. House and Senate candidates

Look at both the size of donations and where they come from. Large contributions from a specific industry or interest group can indicate where a candidate's priorities may lie.

Endorsements from organizations, elected officials, and community leaders signal who a candidate is aligned with. Look for endorsements on the candidate's website and consider whether the endorsing organizations reflect values you share. Endorsements from groups on both sides of an issue can reveal how a candidate is positioning themselves.

Judges don't campaign on policy positions, and they shouldn't. For judicial races, look for:

• Years and type of legal experience (criminal, civil, appellate)
• Whether they've been a prosecutor, public defender, or private attorney - each brings a different perspective to the bench
• Any disciplinary history with the State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org
• Endorsements from legal and civic organizations familiar with their work

Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals races are nonpartisan, but that doesn't mean the candidates don't have backgrounds and judicial philosophies worth understanding.